A magnesium alloy manufactured at Qarhan Salt Lake in northwest China's Qinghai Province is expected to make autos lighter and greener, according to the Salt Lake Magnesium Alloy Industry and Automobile Lightweight Development Forum, which was held in Qinghai's Golmud on June 12.

Lighter, greener

"As the lightest usable metal material, magnesium can effectively shield electromagnetism and be easily recycled. And magnesium alloy is the key to making cars lighter," said Lin Yi, a member of the China Automobile Lightweight Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance Expert Committee.

The Qarhan Salt Lake is China’s largest salt lake and one of the country's main magnesium alloy manufacturing bases. /VCG Photo

He explained that if a car weighs 10 percent lighter, its energy consumption can drop by six to eight percent. Under such circumstances, as China’s largest salt lake and one of the country's main magnesium alloy manufacturing bases, Qarhan Salt Lake will play a more and more important role in the research and promotion of lightweight automobile development in China.

Salt lake magnesium 'more sustainable and stable'

In fact, car manufacturing in China had long been challenged by a lack of magnesium supply, until extraction work began in Qarhan Salt Lake at the end of 2016.

Qarhan Salt Lake is located in the southern part of the Qaidam Basin. As one of China's three main inland basins, Qaidam Basin is located in the northwestern part of Qinghai Province. 

"The project currently can yield 100,000 tons of magnesium a year, and the capacity is expected to climb to one million tons in the future," said Xie Kangmin, president of Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Company.

Machines digging and extracting salt. /VCG Photo

Compared to extracting magnesium from mines, magnesium extracted from salt lake water "will be more sustainable and stable," said Xie.

Magnesium demand is booming

In the past few years, the rapid development of new energy vehicles (NEV) in China has expanded opportunities for magnesium alloy manufacturing.

"If a vehicle is lighter, not only its energy consumption could be reduced, but also its battery can be used longer," Lin said. "I believe more NEV makers will choose parts made from magnesium alloy in the future."

"It means China's demand for magnesium alloy may reach 350,000 tons in 2020 and exceed one million tons in 2030," said Zhen Zisheng, the technical director at Magontec Asia Company.

(Source: Xinhua)